Hinge



`Iuly 1l, 1950 R. B. BATTERs-BY HINGE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. l, 1946 July ll, 1950 R. B. BATTERSBY HINGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. Nov. 1, 1946 a a. w m

Patented July l1, 1950 Robert B. Battersby, Darien, Conn., assigner' to Plastic Manufacturers,

Incorporated, Stam.

ford, Conn., va corporationV of Connecticut Application November 1, 1946, Serial No. 707,075

s Cairns. (o1. 22o-3i) The present invention relates in ygeneral to hinges and more especially tov an improved articulated joint for molded plastic articles.

. An object of the invention is to provide a receptacle comprising a base and cover wherein the-cover is secured to the base by improved articulated-means which is of simple construction and provides a smooth-acting, snugly-fitted hinged joint.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge for plastic recepta-cles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved all-plastic hinge fora molded display case wherein the separable elements of the hinge are molded integrally with corresponding parts of the display case and are joinedv in operative relationship by a plastic pin.

With the above and other objects in view, yas will appear tov those skilled in the art` from the present disclosure, this invention includes -all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention arel shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a molded plastic receptacle embodying the improved plastic hinge of this invention; l

Fig. 2 is a bottoml plan View of the receptacle shown in Fig. l; ",Fig.' 3.is an enlarged sectional end elevation of the receptacle on line 3--3 of Fi-g. 1j;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the improved plastic hinge of this invennon on line 4,-`-4 of Fig. 2; f'

' Fig. 5 is afrag'mentary perspective view of the underside of the base of the receptacle showing the guide-ribs ofthe hinged joint;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective viewof the rear edge of the cover showing the'y integral hinge-tongue thereof; l

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary View of ra modication of the plastic hinge wherein the lower end of the tongues of the cover are bifurcated, so as to engage on opposite sides respectively of a single guide-rib molded on. the underside of the, base;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the Vhinge on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the yplastic hinge embodying modifica- .,tions in `the sha-pe of the guide-ribs, vdue to the vthickness of the tongue of the plastic cover; and

. ,1. Fig. l a fragmentary perspective :View .of

one cornervof the base showing one of the hinge slots therein.

Referring to the drawings, the latter show an exemplary embodiment of the invention as used on a box-like receptacle or display case such as illustrated in Figs. vl and 2. The receptacle may be formed of any suitable material` such, for example, as wood, glass, porcelain. rubber, metal and the like, but for the purposes of illustration is fashioned of amoldable plastic materialhaving the 1.physical characteristics of polystyrene and related plastics, and comprises acne-piece molded base` II consisting preferably of an opaque Iplastic material and comprising a substantially-rectangular platform I2 .circumscribed about itsperimeter by a skirt I3. The skirt I3 is joined to the platform vby a substantially-vertical wall I4,vthe latter being formed integrally with the platform -and depending therefrom' at .substantially right :angles to the` horizonal plane thereof. `The platform Il and `vertical wall I4 are substantially ,planar surfaces .of uniform cross section, whereas the skirt I3 is substantially quadrant-.shaped in cross section, asfshown clearly'inFigJL@ Formed at. one-end 'of the base .Il andmore particularly inl-the topof the skirt I3 immediately adjacent the outer face ofthe wall. Illl of the base,; are a pairof rectangular slots I5 `(see Fig. 3)l which-are `substantially equally spaced laterally` on opposite sides of the. longitudinal axis of the base II. As shown in Fig. 10, each slot l5 piercesvertically through the skirt|3 and extendshorizontally through the adjacent outer face ofthe wall I 4, the width and height of the vertical v.andh oriz ontal reachesrespectively .of the slot I5 being substantially equal and slightly greater than the thicknessgof 4the receptaclefoover, for the purposey hereinafter described. g Although vthe use .of two laterallyspaced slots is preferred,A it will be understood that it-is within the purview of the. inventionto employ moreor less than two slots. y l i `The improved articulated joint `of this invention is shown-generally at I6, one element of which comprises. a projection or rib.|`|A offnlike proportionsy molded integrally or otherwise formed on the underside of the base II, one rib -I'I being provided ateach edge of each slot I.5as shownclearly in Figs. 3 and 5. Each projection constitutes an arcuate substantiallyquadrant-shaped cani-surface I 8v subtending ian `angle of substantially the horizontal reach-,of each cam-surfacebeing extended to intersect the underside of, theg sk irt 13yvhile theverti-cal reach Sinnen is's cam-surface is predetermined, depending upon Y' such factors as the depth of the base I I, the pre= j ferred length of the hinge elements 23 of the cover (hereinafter describiedil andthe-thcknes'sf thereof. Where the thicknessof. the"lii'n'gefele-V ments of the cover is of the order`of"'11'lr Aor'less; the cam-surface I8 of each rib IIiinay. beth' arc of a circle struck on a center corresponding substantially to the point of intersection` ofthe axes of the horizontal and vertical reaches of the Biblis" IV afsV id'c'atedif'by'f'the*brkn'-lines" in Fig. 4.

'cover3 I 9 of the "1recseltfaftse`yv is I:a: one-"piece siilca'sta'ntiailyrectangular"r molded I 'member con"- sist'ing prefer-ably of f a transparent" plastic *mw tiial' aridi4 cornnfisingL *two substantially-vertical sidesarrd ends2lli'andf`2irespectively and ai top 2?auor-whicharefofuniform thickness. when tgai-iy-molded-substantially-rectanguiar tongue tongues:

f2ilwliich are adapted/'tope assembled'in the respective slots 255 ofthetong-ues "259i` afte'r the 'latter have been finsertedf in'- 'the swt-s 115 L'off the lrase; to

complete the articulated joint. To this end, each pin 26 is substantially equal in length to the distancev between the outer faces of its respective pair of guide-ribs I'I, whereby the opposite ends of each pin are adapted to slidingly engagethe respective cam-surfaces I8 thereof, as indicated clearly in Fig. I?. Moreover,r each pin 26 is preferablygformed 'of amlastic niaterial and ilsgadapted `tc'"'b`e secured"in"its respective'slt by va drop of cement 21 or equivalent fastening-means. Al-

though the slot-and-pin construction illustrated herein is highly satisfactory and preferred from the standpoint of economy in manufacture, it is Withinfthe purviewof the invention to provide other "equivalent means.

vThecoverISTof the receptacleis in its closed positicnonzithe-'pase II, as shown in Fig. 1, and may .betemporarily locked therein by suitable lathingrmeans (not shown). When the cover is closed, the guide-pins 26 in the slotted ends of the tong-11125123 @arespaced-E slightly 'below th'efadjacent icamesurfaces" I 8l of" their v'respective ribs I7 by a-naarnountfequalfto tll'efaforementioned clearancespa'ce. By-'tl'1is"exp'e`dient; the finite thickness 'ofthe tongues 23 isiltakeninto account so asto permit 'the cover-Ito vswing freely-from its'fclosedf position-itc itsr'openf position: Whenl the coverfisf nn'latchedf' and Iswung upwardly; the fbot tom edge 24 of its rear wall 2| actsasf'aiuicrum fandlas a'A consequence, the ftransverse vpinsfzt of o fron'rr at.substantiallyvertioalposition?to* a' sli-ltrstantially-horizontalaposition, asi` indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 4 and as-fprovidedforvby the vert-ical and horizontal reaches of the .siots I5#v Furthertv .rotational movement of; the,v cover relative to thev vbase f is?vl effectivelyp1'eventefl.y by engagement. Vof the .extremities of the .tongues 23 withy the undersidefof;the' platform I2, the latter constituting in effect stop-means.` tovlimit-- the rotation of. thecover. The all-plastic articulated joint I6 thus provides a sn'ioot-rh*acting7 snugtting. pivoted. f asteningi-rneans.. for, securing;y the plastic cover/I9; to the plasticA base. II of. the receptacle.

Although the. articula-ted. joint. I6 shownnin Figs. l'through 7 is satisfactory andwholly successful, .it is also.. Within. the purview .ofy the; invention to form eachhinge-elemeni; .ofthe joint as a bifurcated. tongue .such as shown .at 23a,A in Figs] and 8. .In this.instance,.the spaced'parlalleljlegs 28 of each. bifurcatedtongue` 23a.. .are arranged" to extend throughsuitable slots .I 5a of the base I I a and to engage on opposite sidesrespectivelyv ofl a' guide-projection; comprising. a single relatively'-thick` molded rib. Ila on the un ders'ide of" thefbasfe IIa, the former having an arcuate"cani-surface' I8'a adapted to' be engaged by the intermediateportion of 'a transverse guidepin 26a cemented` or otherwise secured at itsioppositeends in' uslots or .aperturesin the lower'extremities of the bifurcat'edtongues 23a:

Fig; gillustrates anA additionalmodification of the invention and relates particularly to" the lpreferred construction of 'the arcuate cam-surfaces ofthe guideeribswhen Athe thickness of; theLWalls andfhingeeelements @f5-the cover areeapprecia-bly greater than 11e". In such instances, the rear edge 29 of the rear end wall 2 Ib-of the relativelythick cover I9b acts as the fulcrum thereof and as the cover is swung upwardly to its open Vposition, the fulcrum-edge 29 will slide inwardly along the upper bearing-surface of the skirt l3b of the base IIb, as indicated'by the broken line positions of the partially-opened cover inl Fig. 9'. Hence, in order to secure a smooth-acting snugiitting hinged joint, compensation must be made for the sliding movement of the fulcrum-'edge 29 and the resulting displacement of the guide-pins 26h at the extremities of the hinge-elements 23h. This may be accomplished by plotting successive positions of the guide-pins 26h for corresponding positions of the fulcrum-edge 29 of the cover as the latter is opened. By drawing a smooth curve through these plotted positions, the required curvature of the cam-surfaces i817 of the guide-ribs Hb may be obtained forrinsuring a smooth-acting, snug-fitting hinged joint. It will be noted, moreover, that by plotting the curvature of the cam-surfaces lBb, a minimum clearance space is required between these surfaces and the guidepins 2Gb. v

The articulated joint or hinge of this invention has been described and illustrated as used in conjunction with the base and cover of a plastic receptacle or display case, but it will be understood that the articulated joint of this invention may be used for pivotally joining any equivalent frame-member to a corresponding base-member.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In an article of manufacture having a basemember provided with a slot and a cover-member: articulated-means to secure one edge of said cover-member in pivotal engagement with said base-member, said articulated-means comprising an element on one edge of said cover-member arranged to project through the slot of said base-member, a pair of arcuate projectionson the underside of said base-member, said arcuate projections being arranged in spaced parallel relationship at opposite edges of said slot and a transverse guide-member carried by said cover-element, the opposite ends of said transverse mem-- ber being arranged to slidingly engage the respective arcuate projections of said base-member as said cover-member is rotated relative thereto.

2. In an article of manufacture having a basemember provided With a slot and a cover-member: articulated-means to secure one edge of said cover-member in pivotal engagement with said base-member, said articulated-means comprising an element on one edge of said cover-member arranged to project through the slot of said basemember, a pair of ribs on the underside of said base, said ribs having arcuate cam-surfaces subtending an angle of substantially 90 and arranged in spaced parallel relationship at opposite edges of said slot and a transverse pin secured to said cover-element, the opposite ends of said pin being arranged to slidingly engage the respective cam-surfaces of said ribs as said cover-member is rotated relative to said base-member.

3. In an article of manufacture having a basemember provided with a pair of spaced slots and a cover-member: articulated-means to secure one edge of said cover-member in pivotal engagement With said base-member, said articulated-means comprising a pair of tongues on the said edge of said cover-member arranged to project through the respective slots of saidbase-member, two pairs of projections on the underside of said basemember, one pair of projections being arranged at opposite edges respectively of each slot and each projection comprising an arcuate cam-surface, and a transverse pin secured in the end of each tongue, the opposite end 'of each ,pin being arranged to slidingly engage the'corresponding cam-surfaces of the respective pairs of projections as said cover-member is rotated relative to said base-member.

4. In an article of manufacture having a basemember provided with a pair of spaced slots and a cover-member: articulated-means to secure one edge of said cover-member in pivotal engagement with said base-member, said articulated-means comprising a pair of tongues on the said edge of said cover-member, each tongue having a transverse slot therein, two pairs of projections on the underside of said base-member, one pair of projections being arranged at opposite edges respectively of each slot and each projection comprising an arcuate cam-surface subtending an angle of substantially and a pin secured in the transverse slot in the end of each respective tongue, the opposite ends of each pin being arranged to slidingly engage the corresponding cam-surfaces of the respective pairs of projections as said cover-member is rotated relative to said base-member.

5. A hinge for securing a frame-member in pivotal engagement with a base-member having a pair of spaced slots therein, said hinge comprising a pair of tongues on one edge of said framemember arranged to project through the slots of said base-member, two pairs of projections on the underside of said base-member, one pair of projections being arranged at opposite edges respectively of each slot and each projection comprising an arcuate cam-surface, and a transverse pin secured in the end of each tongue, the opposite ends of each pin being arranged to slidingly engage the corresponding cam-surfaces of the respective pairs of projections as the framemember is rotated relative to said base-member.

6. A hinge for securing a frame-member in pivotal engagement with a base-member having a pair of laterally-spaced slots in one edge thereof; said hinge comprising a pair of tongues on one edge of said frame-member arranged to project into the respective slots of said base-member, each of said tongues having a transverse groove in the lower end thereof, two pairs of projections on the underside of said base-member, one pair of projections being arranged at opposite edges respectively of each slot at substantially right angles thereto and comprising an arcuate cam-surface subtending an angle of substantially 90, and a pin secured in the transverse slot in the end of each tongue, the opposite ends of each pin being arranged to slidingly engage corresponding camsurfaces of the respective pairs of projections as said frame-member is rotated relative to said base-member.

7. An article of manufacture comprising a plastic base-member embodying a platform and a flange circumscribing said platform and joined integrally therewith by a substantially-vertical shoulder, said base-member having a pair of Smedfislots: Providern onexedee f -thereofgfsaid slotsgintersectingrbothgsaidflange and thej comer spending- -portions of sa-d-shoulder; fa #plastic cmleitsmemberffor saidv base, said ,cover-member keine;arranged-` to' tA overxzsaidl platform; and i to engageren said--flange vadjacent the basefof said shouldergiqand articulated-means tof-secure one edgeiofsaidoover-member in pivotal engagement withl theA slotted edge ofsaid base-member;y said articulated-meanscomprising a, pair.- r'.of,A plastic tongues formed-integral1y-on ,one edgeof -safid coVier-memberand adaptedyto project downward",- 1y. througnthe slotsfin sadfange, eachtongue hayingatransverse slot inats: lower end, ltwo pairs of Aarcuate moldedl rib -members ontthe funders'de `oi` saidbase-:membeLone pairs of ribsfber ing arranged at opposite edgeszrespectivelywof each; slot and each rib.: comprising an arcuate cam-surface subtending anf-,angleof substantially 909, vand a-plastic pin secured in the-transverse slotinthe-lower-end of each tongue, the,-.opposite ends oft-each--pn Ybeing arranged to slidinglyzengage the correspondingcamfsurfacesf-ofv-the ref speotiveupairs of rilos as said cover-member is frotaitedfrelative to fsad-.base-.membert 8g Ayhinge for securingi=a1plastic cover-member in V`pivotalevngafgementl with afplastic .base-mem REFERENCES. CITED They following references are of record'n the ef-.of ths'wpatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number` Name Date 470,291 Dowling Mar; 8, 1892 1,092,136- Burchess Apr. 7J/.11914 v1,631,365 Fahrenfeld Jur-1e v'1,v 1927 

